York couple keeps Black Friday shoppers from going hungry

Inside the stand, Michael and Diane Dravk serve customers in the parking lot of Kmart on Friday. (Mike Spiro)

Customers began lining up early Thursday morning in front of Kmart in York.

It was cold, but by 6 p.m. Thanksgiving evening, the smell of french fries and funnel cakes filled the noses of the dormant doorbusters.

"Most people were happy to see us, everybody was in a good mood," Michael Dravk of Z&D French Fries said.

"We ate dinner at about 12:30 (p.m.), and had a traditional Thanksgiving. Our family knows that this stand is where you can find us," he said

Dravk is referring to the food stand his family has owned for eight years.

"We have three trailers, and our friends and family help us run them. So for us, this is tradition," he said.

The stand appeared at Kmart last year, and it went so well that the store's management invited Dravk back this year.

Z&D French Fries sits outside Kmart on Friday. (Mike Spiro)

"We are happy to be here -- it's going to be a long night," Dravk said.

For Dravk and his wife, Diane, the stand is a secondary business.

"I drive a truck, and she drives a school bus," Dravk said.

While most of the nation was recovering from a large meal and watching football, the two seemed to be enjoying themselves in the Kmart parking lot. If nothing else, the fryers kept the couple warm on a chilly Black Friday morning.

"After being out here, I think the people want something to do. So why not? The world is twenty-four seven," he said. "When we were kids, nothing was open on Sundays. I understand some people don't like it, but the people here were happy."

***

The first person in line for Best Buy's Black Friday opening got to the store at 12 a.

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m. Though he might have gotten first dibs on the big-ticket items, he probably wasn't as entertained as David Vasquez of West Manchester was. Vasquez arrived at 7 a.m., but was in line in front of an energetic group of girls.

"Some people were dancing just to keep warm," he said.

Some girls were playing music from their phones and "were dancing for four hours while we were waiting in line. They were getting into it."

The dancing shoppers joined the hundreds of eager York countians waiting for the store to open its doors. TVs seemed to be the most popular item, and, after finally being let into the store from the line outside, Vasquez had to jump right back into another line to claim his TV.

"The one I wanted was sold out, so I got the 26-inch," he said.

Vasquez wasn't planning on waiting in the cold for as long as he did.

"I misread the paper. I thought the store was opening at ten. So I came out at seven. But my brother brought me my coat. And overall, everyone seemed upbeat, and everything was good."

***

A few minutes away, sitting in lawn chairs with coats, gloves and blankets were T.J. Platts and Diego Herrera, both of Spring Garden Township. Platts knew exactly when Sam's Club was opening, and knew what they wanted. They arrived on scene at 11 p.m., despite the store not opening until 7 a.m.

T.J., son of U.S. Rep. Todd Platts (R-York County), said his dad was looking at a 55-inch TV and that he needed the big TV to play Xbox on. "I said to my dad, 'There is no way you're getting a smaller TV,'" T.J. said.

"I am a complete eBay buyer. I don't look at Black Friday as huge savings. But it's my first time waiting out in the cold, and it feels more like Black Thursday for me because I've been out here since 11 p.m."

T.J.'s friend Diego wasn't even planning on buying anything, but tagged along to wait with his friend.

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